UFC CEO Dana White has announced the first three match-ups for April’s UFC 300.
Taking to social media on Thursday evening, the promotion’s head honcho started off by saying that no main event was ready to be announced — but instead revealed that former light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1), who recently fell to Alex Pereira, would face Aleksandar Rakic (14-3) at the milestone show.
Also announced for UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13, 2024, Bo Nickal returns, taking on Cody Brundage in middleweight action. And ex-135lb champ Aljamain Sterling makes the move to featherweight to face a tough out in Calvin Kattar.
Jiri Prochazka returned from a significant shoulder injury, one that forced him to vacate the UFC’s 205lb title, this past November at UFC 295, only to be finished with elbows by “Poatan,” a former middleweight champ. The defeat marked Prochazka’s first under the UFC banner, and first loss since 2015.
Rakic is also coming off a loss to Jan Blachowicz in May 2022, another former champ— though an asterisk sits next to that defeat, as Rakic injured his knee early in the fight. Prior to that, the Austrian had put together back-to-back wins over Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.
Bo Nickal (5-0) has seen his entire pro MMA career play out in the time since Rakic last fought. All of his wins have come inside of a round, while Brundage (10-5) has won his past two — both first round finishes, albeit one via DQ.
As for Aljamain Sterling (23-4), he makes his long-awaited move to 145lbs after losing his title to Sean O’Malley earlier this year. “The Funkmaster” saw a nine-fight win streak snapped in that defeated, which came on the heels of three successful title defenses.
Kattar has lost his last two, but the New England Cartel standout has three Fight of the Night bonuses in his last four fights.
Additional fights for UFC 300 are expected to be announced in the new year.
